Collapsible artificial christmas tree

ABSTRACT

A collapsible Christmas tree comprising a resilient spring-like conically-shaped spiral frame member, having an electrical conductor means and ornamentation means connected thereto, said frame member having a plurality of convolutions adapted to be concentrically collapsed into a generally flat spiral configuration; suspension means interconnecting said convolutions to support them in vertically spaced relation to each other when said frame is in a conically-shaped spiral configuration, said electrical conductor means and said ornamentation means permanently connected to said frame member and including electric lights, tinsel and other decorations; a clamping support means secured to an apex area of said frame for holding said suspension means either for suspension of said collapsible Christmas tree from above or for supporting said Christmas tree on a stand from a floor area.

July 18, 1972 L. K. WESTLUND COLLAPSIBLE ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 24, 1971 INVENTOR.

LINDA K. WESTLUND BY W, W; 461

ATTORNEYS July 18, 1972 L. K. WESTLUND 3,677,867

COLLAPSIBLE ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREE Filed March 24, 1971 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LINDA K. W J1EE 5 BY ESTLUND Md, W I @M ATTORNEYS United States Patent CUS. Cl. 161--14 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsibleChristmas tree comprising a resilient spring-like comically-shapedspiral frame member, having an electrical conductor means andornamentation means connected thereto, said frame member having aplurality of convolutions adapted to be concentrically collapsed into agenerally flat spiral configuration; suspension means interconnectingsaid convolutions to support them in vertically spaced relation to eachother when said frame is in a conically-shaped spiral configuration,said electrical conductor means and said ornamentation means permanentlyconnected to said frame member and including electric lights, tinsel andother decorations; a clamping support means secured to an apex area ofsaid frame for holding said suspension means either for suspension ofsaid collapsible Christmas tree from above or for supporting saidChristmas tree on a stand from a floor area.

Various prior artificial Christmas trees, including those of acollapsible nature, have been relatively incomplete and have requiredconsiderable effort to be decorated in order to ready such trees fordisplay after they have been extended from a collapsed condition.Accordingly, none of the prior art collapsible Christmas trees have beenso equipped that they have been completely ready for seasonal display,after simply extending from a collapsed position to a generallyconically-shaped configuration. The prior art has lacked suitable meansfor connecting electric lights to a spiral-shaped collapsible Christmastree frame.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anovel, collapsible Christmas tree, including a novel combination of anelectrically insulated, conicallyshaped spiral frame having a pluralityof convolutions with which an electrical conductor means is generallycontiguous and which is permanently attached to the frame and adapted tosupport and energize electric lights such as the conventional ornamentallights utilized on a Christmas tree. Additionally, the inventioncomprises a generally rope-shaped tinsel structure wrapped around theconically-shaped spiral frame of the invention and suitable foradditional ornamentations, such as spherical, ball-shaped ornaments, arepermanently attached to the sonically-shaped spiral frame member.Furthermore the symmetry of the collapsible Christmas tree of theinvention is maintained by a suspension means which is flexible andcovered with ornamentation and which maintains the plurality ofconvolution of the frame member in symmetrically, vertically spacedrelationship to each other, so as to support them either in suspendedposition from the ceiling of a room or on a suitable stand from thefloor of the room.

The invention also contains a novel support means including a clampingbolt and suspension means for sup- 3,677,867 Patented July 18, 1972 iceporting the apex portion of the comically-shaped spiral frame member, aswell as flexible convolution suspension supports. The clamping supportis provided with a pair of opposed screw-threaded members adapted to beclamped together so as to securely hold the apex of the conicallyshapedspiral frame member, the flexible suspension means, and also overhead aswell as stand support means for the entire assembly of the collapsibleChristmas tree in the invention.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a collapsibleChristmas tree which is very compact when in collapsed position and veryattractive when in display position and contains and holds permanentlyattached ornamentation means as well as electric lighting means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Christmas tree of theaforementioned character and construction, which may readily besuspended from the ceiling of a room and swag chain and electrical cordsupport means may carry an electrical cord and conduct electricity toelectrical lights permanently attached to the collapsible Christmas treeof the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible Christmastree which may very compactly be collapsed from a comically-shapedspiral configuration into a substantially flat configuration, with allof the desired onamentation permanently fixed thereto, together with anelectrical conductor means and electrical lighting fixtures, wherebyextension of said collapsible Christmas tree from a flat configurationto a conical configuration immediately prepares the tree for seasonaldisplay.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may become apparent fromthe following specification independent claims and accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage box wherein a collapsibleChristmas tree of the invention is shown in a substantially flat spiralconfiguration ready for storage;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of .a collapsible Christmas tree ofthe invention shown extended into a conically-shaped spiralconfiguration and suspended from the ceiling of a building room and inseasonal display disposition;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a floor stand structure,showing a modification of the invention and showing details of aclamping bolt support structure, which supports flexible suspensionmembers for the spiral convolutions of the frame member of the inventionand showing the clamping means relative to an apex portion of the framemember as well as a suspension hook means at the top end of the supportmeans;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 4-4of FIG. 2, showing the electrically insulated structure of the framemember as well as an electrical conductor means and ornamentation meanswrapped around the frame member; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the structure shown inFIG. 4 and illustrating the electrically insulated frame member with anelectrical conductor means wrapped around the frame member andsubstantially contiguous thereto, and also a rope-like tinselornamentation means wrapped around the frame member and contiguousthereto.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings the collapsible Christmas tree of thepresent invention may be stored in a box or other suitable container 10,wherein spiral convolutions of the collapsible Christmas tree structureare designated 12, and are in generally flat spiral configuration andsupporting various ornamentation as well as electrical conductor meansand electric lights.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings the convolutions 12 are disposed in agenerally conically-shaped spiral configuration and these convolutionsare also supported at an apex area 14 of the collapsible Christmas tree.The area 14 is held by a support means 16 having a suspension means 18suspended from the ceiling of a building room by means of a hook 20. Theconvolutions 12 are each secured by flexible suspension hangers 22 forholding all the convolutions 12 in symmetrical vertically spacedrelation to each other as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, a swag chain 24 is supported inlooped disposition by a hanger 26 secured to a ceiling of a buildingroom and this swag chain 24 carries an electrical conductor which may beplugged into the conventional electrical outlet 28. The electricalconductor carried by the swag chain 24 may be electrically connected toelectrical conductor means supported on the spiral-shaped frame of theinvention and within each of the convolutions 12, as will be hereinafterdescribed.

As shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the spiral-shaped frame memberextends through each of the convolutions 12 and is generallyconically-shaped when in displayed position, as shown in FIG. 2 of thedrawings. A crosssection of this frame member comprises an inner core ofresilient material, such as spring steel, this core being designated 30in FIG. 4 of the drawings; the shape of this core 30 is in substantialconformity with the spiral configuration 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 ofthe drawings.

The frame member 30 is covered with a concentric sheath of insulationmaterial 32 which electrically insulates the frame member 30 from anycontact with an electrical conductor.

Also shown in FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a two-wire electricalconductor means 34. This electrical means 34, as shown in FIG. of thedrawings, is wrapped around the frame and its insulating sheath 32.Connected to the conductors of the electrical conductor means 34 areelectric lighting fixtures 36 permanently attached to the insulationsheath 32 of the frame member 30.

A tinsel-rope structure 38 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings iswrapped around the insulation sheath 32 of the frame member 30 so as toprovide for permanent attachments of the tinsel rope 38, as well as theelectrical conductor means 34 and electric lighting fixtures 36 relativeto the frame 30. Additionally, ball-shaped ornaments 40 are fixed to thesheath 32 by suitable clamps so as to permanently attach these ornamentsto the frame 30.

The flexible suspension means 22 are tinsel-covered as shown in FIG. 2of the drawings, but are shown bare for purposes of illustration in FIG.3 of the drawings, and these suspension elements 22 may be any suitableflexible material such as nylon or other cord having sulficient strengthto support the convolutions 12 of the Christmas tree in verticallyspaced relation, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. These flexiblesuspension means 22 are clamped between a pair of clamping washers 42and 44, shown in separated position for purposes of disclosure in FIG. 3of the drawings. These clamping members 42 and 44 are screw-threadablymovable toward each other to clamp the suspension members 22therebetween and also to clamp an apex portion 46 of the frame member 30and its sheath 32 between the clamping members 42 and 44. These members42 and 44 are washer-like structures, the member 44 being preferablyfixed to a screw-threaded shank 48 of the support structure while anupper portion 50 carries the suspension eye 18 shown in FIG. 2 of thedrawings.

A normally lower end of the support structure includes a downwardlyextending shank portion 52, adapted to fit into an upper end of a hollowstand member 54, such that the support structure is carried by a stand54 which is provided with a base 56 adapted to rest on a floorstructure. It will be seen that the support structure shown in FIG. 3 ofthe drawings including the clamping means hereinbefore described securestogether an upper apex portion of the spiral-shaped frame member as wellas the flexible supports 22 and is disposed either to be suspended froma room ceiling or to be supported on the stand 54 hereinbeforedescribed.

In operation, the entire structure of the collapsible Christmas tree ashereinbefore described may be stored with all of its electricalequipment and ornamentation in a fiat spiral configuration in the box 10and may very readily be extended to the conically-shaped spiralconfiguration, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, and such may be veryquickly accomplished since the flexible suspension means 22 accuratelyspaces and suspends the convolutions 12 in vertically spacedrelationship to each other to obtain a very symmetrical disposition ofthe convolutions 12 and all of the ornamentation, including the lights36, as well as the other ornamentation carried by the conically-shapedspiral frame member of the invention.

It will be understood that the collapsible Christmas tree of theinvention may be very quickly removed from the box 10 and put in displayposition either on the stand 54 or in suspended position from a ceilingsupported hook 20 as hereinbefore described. While the swag chain 24supports a conductor for coupling with the electrical conductor means 34of the invention, it will be obvious that an electrical conductorextending from the outlet 28 may be coupled to the electrical conductormeans 34 near a lower portion of the tree at a lower end of the frame 30at one of the lowermost convolutions 12.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art, that variousmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Having fully described my invention and the presently preferredembodiment thereof, I claim:

1. In a collapsible Christmas tree, the combination of:

(a) a resilient spring-like conically shaped spiral frame having aplurality of convolutions adapted to be collapsed into a generally flatspiral configuration, and including a central apex portion;

(b) support means carrying said apex portion;

(0) ceiling fixture means coupled to said support means;

'(d) a plurality of flexible suspension hangers connected to saidconvolutions of said frame when said convolutions are in verticallyspaced relation in a generally conically shaped spiral configuration;

(e) electrical conductor means generally contiguous with said frame andelectrically insulated therefrom;

(f) electric lighting fixtures electrically coupled to said electricconductor means and carried by said frame; and

(g) ornamentation means wrapped around said frame member and saidelectrical conductor means,

whereby said collapsible Christmas tree comprises permanently attachedlighting and ornamental means and may be seasonally displayed in aconically shaped spiral configuration or may be readily stored completewith lighting and ornamentation means in a fiat spiral configurationpending subsequent seasonal display.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein a ceiling swag chain andelectrical cord support extends to said apex portion of said frame forsupporting an electrical conductor means for connection with said firstmentioned electrical conductor means.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said support meanscomprises a screw-threaded bolt having opposed screw-threaded meansthereon clamping said apex of said frame on said support; said bolthaving a suspension connection at its normally upper end above saidframe when in said comically-shaped spiral configuration.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, together with a substantiallyvertical stand provided with a base adapted to rest on a floor, saidstand having an upper end adapted 5 to carry said support means; saidsupport means comprising a screw-threaded bolt having opposedscrewthreaded means clamping said apex portion of said frame on saidsupport.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of flexiblesuspension hangers connect said convolutions in vertically spacedrelation to each other when said frame member is in a generallyconically-shaped spiral configuration; said support means comprising ascrew-threaded bolt having opposed screw-threaded m ans clamping saidapex of said frame member on said support, and also clamping saidflexible suspension hangers on said support.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,731,752 1/1956 Erickson et a1.161-22 X 3,176,123 3/1965 Blake 161l4 X 2,841,901 7/1958 Maple 16114 XFOREIGN PATENTS 488,501 12/1952 Canada 16122 673,842 11/ 1963 Canada16124 PHILIP DIER, Primary Examiner US. 01. X.R.

